[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 39 (Thursday, March 2, 1995)]
[Senate]
[Page S3432]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


                    TRIBUTE TO TOM AND GANIA TROTTER

 Mr. MURKOWSKI. Mr. President, I am pleased to pay tribute 
today to two eminent Alaskans, Tom and Gania Trotter, on the occasion 
of their retirement after many years of dedicated service to higher 
education in America, but most recently in their roles as president and 
associate to the president for development at Alaska Pacific 
University.
  F. Thomas Trotter is a native of Los Angeles, CA. After serving in 
the U.S. Army Air Corps in World War II, he attended Occidental College 
and received his Ph.D. from Boston University. He served in numerous 
ministerial and faculty roles, and was elected to be the first dean of 
the School of Theology at Claremont College. In 1973, Dr. Trotter 
became general secretary of the Board of Higher Education and Ministry 
of the United Methodist Church. In this post, he gave oversight to 128 
colleges and universities related to the denomination. During his 
administration, significant international programs were established 
including a United States-Japan consortium and the establishment of a 
new university in Zimbabwe. He has been the director of several 
businesses, including the Third National Bank of Nashville, is the 
recipient of 10 honorary degrees, and is a trustee of Dillard 
University. Dr. Trotter is the author of ``Jesus and The Historian'' 
and ``Loving God With One's Mind.''
  Gania Demaree Trotter, a native of Anaheim, CA, is also a graduate of 
Occidental College and received an M.A. in Student Personnel 
Administration from Columbia University. A gifted musician, Mrs. 
Trotter was a choral director in California schools and churches and a 
member of the Robert Shaw Collegiate Chorale. She was director of 
development for the Blair School of Music of Vanderbilt University and 
is an experienced higher education administrator.
  Dr. Trotter began his service to Alaska Pacific University as a 
trustee in 1974, and in 1987, he was selected as its eighth president. 
He worked diligently to improve curriculum design and financial growth. 
He introduced new undergraduate and graduate programs and thawed the 
ice curtain when he forged an agreement between APU and Far Eastern 
University in Vladivostok, Russia. The Carr Gottstein academic 
building, which has been a wonderful addition to the campus, was 
designed and constructed under President Trotter's careful oversight. 
During his tenure, Alaska Pacific University has been recognized in 
several national publications for its academic excellence.
  Gania Trotter has supported the university and its mission with 
energy and grace both in development and community awareness. She has 
cultivated important relationships which will benefit the university 
and its students for many years to come. Mrs. Trotter has further 
distinguished herself in Alaska through her creative enthusiasm and 
civic involvement, most notably in the symphony, opera, and Catholic 
social services.
  Tonight in Anchorage, several hundred friends and colleagues will 
gather to honor Tom and Gania for their years of selfless dedication to 
the education of Americans, a gift that will last for generations. I 
join many others in offering my sincere gratitude and best wishes to 
both of them.


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